Queen of Waters by Nancy Kerr Nancy Kerr & James Fagan played the main stage of the Shrewsbury Folk Festival on Sunday 29th August 2010. This footage is from the feed that was sent to the screens in the main stage and also webcast as a live event. Well away my love away, For we're sailing home today On a boat called memory Hail home, hearts that long for the land Oh she's like some Persian queen, With her opal robes serene In the lamplight shimmering Hail home, hearts that long for the land Chorus : On a blue jay morning Feathering thorny memories Hail home, hearts have been too long away On a well-worn byway travelling Magpie gathering Farewell queen of waters Well it's hard to roll in mirth, When your feet don't touch the earth And the wolf comes hungering Hail home, hearts that long for the land Folly never foots the bill And we all shall pay in full For the love of melody Hail home, hearts that long for the land Well I should have sowed my corn, But I danced until the dawn Like an ant grasshoppering Hail home, hearts that long for the land Oh there must be better ways For to keep the debts at bay And the whiskey trickling Hail home, hearts that long for the land So we'll bid our ship adieu There's a mooring in the blue Where the gulls are gathering Hail home, hearts that long for the land Oh she's like some Persian queen, And her like shall ne'er be seen Only in our reverie Hail home, hearts that long for the land 'Queen of Waters' was written by Nancy Kerr and recorded on the album 'Twice Reflected Sun' by Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Navigator Records (2010). In the sleeve notes it says 'A farewell to the Kennet and Avon Canal'. For a time Nancy Kerr and James Fagan lived on a narrowboat on that canal near Bath. This song was nominated in the Best Original Song category at the BBC Folk Awards in 2011. 'Queen of Waters' is also the title of a book by Kirsten Elliott which is subtitled 'A Journey in Time along the Kennet and Avon Canal' (Akeman Press 2010).